Calyx adds two companies in latest acquisition drive

10 Jun 2004

Calyx, one of the country’s largest voice and data providers, has made two new Irish acquisitions. The company has bought Carlow-based Vipertec and BevCom of Cork for a combined total of more than €1m.

Vipertec is an IT services provider that focuses on network installation and hardware repair. Former owner Patrick Ramseyer will join Calyx in a consultancy capacity. BevCom, based in Mallow, was previously a Calyx distributor. The company’s office functions will be absorbed into the Calyx Cork office while the previous owner, Declan Bevan, will take up a sales role in Calyx.

Explaining the reasons for the acquisitions, Calyx MD Maurice Healy said: “It’s giving us a geographical spread. We had a good base of customers for the data business in Cork but [BevCom] will give us a good foothold in Munster on the voice side of the business. Vipertec will give us a foothold in the South-East.”

Both companies have a staff of 10 employees and Calyx has confirmed that no jobs will be lost as a result of the deals. BevCom was bought for approximately €600,000 and Vipertec cost just over €400,000. “Where they’re important for us is the type of acquisitions they are, adding recurring revenue without having to grow our costs accordingly,” Healy told siliconrepublic.com. Both companies will also contribute other sales and revenue to Calyx, which has a turnover of close to €60m. The new acquisitions will quickly pay for themselves, Healy added. “We will have our money back on those deals within 18 months.”

Following a management buyout from the Alphyra Group in 2002, Calyx has pursued an acquisition strategy for growth and this will continue, Healy confirmed. Last year Calyx bought Moss Technology and HCS for €6m combined. The company has now revealed that it has held informal discussions with several companies in Ireland and the UK about further deals. “We are working on a couple of larger acquisitions in Ireland but there are some big opportunities in the UK at the moment and hopefully we will have a sizeable presence in that market by the end of the year,” said Healy.